LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Nov. 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

Fiscal 2021 (comparisons versus prior year):

• GAAP EPS of $9.12, up seven percent; GAAP net income of $2,115 million, up 10 percent; and GAAP net income margin of 20.5 percent, down 130 basis points.
• Adjusted EPS* of $9.02, up eight percent; adjusted EBITDA* of $3,883 million, up seven percent; and adjusted EBITDA margin* of 37.6 percent, down 330 basis points.

Q4 FY21 (comparisons versus prior year):

• GAAP EPS of $2.51, up 15 percent; GAAP net income of $619 million, up 25 percent; and GAAP net income margin of 21.8 percent, up 50 basis points.
• Adjusted EPS* of $2.51, up 15 percent; adjusted EBITDA* of $1,041 million, up 11 percent; and adjusted EBITDA margin* of 36.6 percent, down 380 basis points.

Fiscal 2021 and Recent Highlights

• Increased quarterly dividend 12 percent to $1.50 per share, the 39th consecutive year of increases.
• Recognized for sustainability performance by EcoVadis, Barron's 100 Most Sustainable Companies, 100 Best Corporate Citizens, Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2021 Corporate Equality Index, and Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America, among others. As a signatory to the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ and in keeping with Air Products' goal to be the most diverse industrial gas company in the world, hosted Day of Understanding/Week of Inclusion, underpinning company's announced diversity, inclusion and belonging goals.
• Completed asset acquisition and project financing transactions for the ~$12 billion air separation unit/gasification/power joint venture with Aramco, ACWA Power and Air Products Qudra in Jazan Economic City, Saudi Arabia.
• Announced landmark net-zero hydrogen energy complex in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, setting the stage for Air Products to operate the most competitive and lowest-carbon-intensity hydrogen network in the world.  The facility's combination of advanced hydrogen reforming technology, carbon capture and storage, and hydrogen-fueled electricity generation makes net-zero possible.
• Announced $4.5 billion world-scale clean energy complex in Louisiana, helping to advance the U.S. clean energy transition. Air Products will build, own and operate the megaproject, which will produce over 750 million standard cubic feet per day of blue hydrogen for local and global markets when operational in 2026. This megaproject will also capture and permanently sequester over five million metric tons per year of carbon dioxide, making it the largest carbon capture for sequestration facility in the world.

Guidance

• Fiscal 2022 full-year adjusted EPS guidance* of $10.20 to $10.40, up 13 to 15 percent over prior year adjusted EPS*; fiscal 2022 first quarter adjusted EPS guidance* of $2.45 to $2.55, up 16 to 20 percent over prior year first quarter adjusted EPS*.
• Expect fiscal year 2022 capital expenditures* of $4.5 to 5.0 billion.

^#Earnings per share is calculated and presented on a diluted basis from continuing operations attributable to Air Products.

*Certain results in this release, including in the highlights above, include references to non-GAAP financial measures on a consolidated, continuing operations basis and a segment basis. Additional information regarding these measures and reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP historical results can be found below. In addition, as discussed below, it is not possible, without unreasonable efforts, to identify the timing or occurrence of events and transactions that could significantly impact future GAAP EPS or cash flow used for investing activities if they were to occur.

Air Products (NYSE:APD) today reported fiscal year 2021 results, including GAAP EPS from continuing operations of $9.12, up seven percent over prior year, and GAAP net income of $2,115 million, up 10 percent over prior year due to favorable pricing, currencies, equity affiliate income, and a discontinued operations related tax reserve release, partially offset by higher costs to support growth. GAAP net income margin of 20.5 percent was down 130 basis points, including higher energy cost pass-through, which negatively impacted margin by about 100 basis points.

For the year, on a non-GAAP basis, adjusted EPS from continuing operations of $9.02 increased eight percent over the prior year, and adjusted EBITDA of $3,883 million was up seven percent over the prior year, as favorable pricing, currencies, and equity affiliate income more than offset higher costs to support growth. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 37.6 percent decreased 330 basis points, primarily due to higher energy cost pass-through, which negatively impacted margin by about 200 basis points.

Full-year sales of $10.3 billion increased 17 percent over the prior year, on six percent higher energy pass-through, five percent higher volumes, four percent favorable currency, and two percent higher pricing. Volume growth was primarily driven by the EMEA and Global Gases segments, and pricing improved in all three regions and across most major product lines.

Fiscal Fourth Quarter Results (Q4FY21)

For its fiscal fourth quarter 2021, Air Products reported GAAP EPS from continuing operations of $2.51, up 15 percent over prior year, and GAAP net income of $619 million, up 25 percent over prior year, as favorable volume, pricing, currencies, equity affiliate income, and a discontinued operations related tax reserve release more than offset higher costs. GAAP net income margin of 21.8 percent was up 50 basis points over prior year, primarily due to higher energy cost pass-through, which negatively impacted margin by about 150 basis points.

For the quarter, on a non-GAAP basis, adjusted EPS from continuing operations of $2.51 was up 15 percent over prior year, and adjusted EBITDA of $1,041 million was up 11 percent over prior year due to favorable volume, pricing, currencies, and equity affiliate income, partially offset by higher costs. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 36.6 percent was down 380 basis points versus prior year, primarily due to higher energy cost pass-through, which negatively impacted margin by about 300 basis points.

Fourth quarter sales of $2,841 million increased 22 percent on nine percent higher volumes, eight percent higher energy cost pass-through, three percent higher pricing and two percent favorable currency. Volume growth from improved hydrogen and merchant demand and new assets more than offset reduced contributions from the Lu'An facility in China. Pricing again improved in all three regions.

Commenting on the results, Air Products' Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Seifi Ghasemi said, "The committed, dedicated and motivated team at Air Products proved once again that they can deliver results now while developing and executing megaprojects for profitable growth in the future. We delivered excellent results for the year, despite significant external challenges. We announced significant projects across our core gasification, carbon capture and hydrogen growth platforms, including the net-zero hydrogen facility in Alberta, Canada and the massive blue hydrogen project in Louisiana, while also closing on the $12 billion Jazan acquisition. I remain very optimistic about the future of Air Products."

Fiscal Fourth Quarter Results by Business Segment 

• Industrial Gases - Americas sales of $1,115 million were up 22 percent over the prior year on 15 percent higher energy cost pass-through, four percent higher pricing, and three percent higher volumes, driven primarily by hydrogen and merchant demand. Operating income of $290 million increased 22 percent on higher volumes, pricing and lower maintenance costs; adjusted EBITDA of $476 million increased 16 percent on these same factors as well as higher equity affiliate income. Operating margin of 26.0 percent decreased 20 basis points, as an approximately 300 basis point negative impact from higher energy cost pass-through was largely offset by lower costs and favorable pricing. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 42.7 percent decreased 230 basis points, as an approximately 550 basis point negative impact from higher energy cost pass-through was partially offset by lower costs and higher equity affiliate income.
• Industrial Gases - EMEA sales of $674 million increased 33 percent over the prior year on 14 percent higher volumes, driven primarily by hydrogen and merchant demand and new assets; 12 percent higher energy cost pass-through; four percent higher pricing; and three percent favorable currency. Operating income of $136 million increased 11 percent on higher volumes, pricing and favorable currency, partially offset by energy cost escalation during the quarter; adjusted EBITDA of $229 million increased 14 percent on these same factors as well as higher equity affiliate income. Operating margin of 20.2 percent decreased 420 basis points, with higher energy cost pass-through accounting for about 200 basis points of the decline. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 34.0 percent decreased 560 basis points, with higher energy cost pass-through accounting for approximately 400 basis points of the decline.
• Industrial Gases - Asia sales of $754 million increased six percent over the prior year on five percent favorable currency and one percent higher pricing. Volumes were flat, with new plants offsetting reduced contributions from Lu'An. Operating income of $206 million decreased two percent as favorable pricing and currency were more than offset by higher costs, and operating margin of 27.3 percent decreased 220 basis points. Adjusted EBITDA of $341 million increased three percent as favorable pricing and currency more than offset higher costs. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 45.3 percent decreased 100 basis points.

Outlook

Air Products expects full-year fiscal 2022 adjusted EPS guidance of $10.20 to $10.40, up 13 to 15 percent over prior year adjusted EPS. For the fiscal 2022 first quarter, Air Products' adjusted EPS guidance is $2.45 to $2.55, up 16 to 20 percent over fiscal 2021 first quarter adjusted EPS.

Air Products expects capital expenditures of $4.5 to $5.0 billion for full-year fiscal 2022.

Management has provided adjusted EPS guidance on a continuing operations basis, which excludes the impact of certain items that we believe are not representative of our underlying business performance, such as the incurrence of additional costs for cost reduction actions and impairment charges, or the recognition of gains or losses on disclosed items. It is not possible, without unreasonable efforts, to predict the timing or occurrence of these events or the potential for other transactions that may impact future GAAP EPS or the effective tax rate. Furthermore, it is not possible to identify the potential significance of these events in advance, but any of these events, if they were to occur, could have a significant effect on our future GAAP EPS. Management therefore is unable to reconcile, without unreasonable effort, the Company's forecasted range of adjusted EPS and effective tax rate to a comparable GAAP range.

Earnings Teleconference

Access the Q4 earnings teleconference scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on November 4, 2021 by calling 323-794-2588 and entering passcode 1560168 or access the Event Details page on Air Products' Investor Relations website.

About Air Products

Air Products (NYSE:APD) is a world-leading industrial gases company in operation for 80 years. Focused on serving energy, environment and emerging markets, the Company provides essential industrial gases, related equipment and applications expertise to customers in dozens of industries, including refining, chemical, metals, electronics, manufacturing, and food and beverage. Air Products is also the global leader in the supply of liquefied natural gas process technology and equipment. The Company develops, engineers, builds, owns and operates some of the world's largest industrial gas projects, including: gasification projects that sustainably convert abundant natural resources into syngas for the production of high-value power, fuels and chemicals; carbon capture projects; and world-scale carbon-free hydrogen projects supporting global transportation and the energy transition.

The Company had fiscal 2021 sales of $10.3 billion from operations in over 50 countries and has a current market capitalization of about $65 billion. More than 20,000 passionate, talented and committed employees from diverse backgrounds are driven by Air Products' higher purpose to create innovative solutions that benefit the environment, enhance sustainability and address the challenges facing customers, communities, and the world. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about earnings and capital expenditure guidance, business outlook and investment opportunities. Forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations and assumptions as of the date of this release and are not guarantees of future performance. While forward-looking statements are made in good faith and based on assumptions, expectations and projections that management believes are reasonable based on currently available information, actual performance and financial results may differ materially from projections and estimates expressed in the forward-looking statements because of many factors, including, without limitation: the duration and impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic and efforts to contain its transmission, including the effect of these factors on our business, our customers, economic conditions and markets generally; changes in global or regional economic conditions, inflation and supply and demand dynamics in market segments we serve, or in the financial markets that may affect the availability and terms on which we may obtain financing; the ability to implement price increases to offset cost increases, risks associated with having extensive international operations, including political risks, risks associated with unanticipated government actions and risks of investing in developing markets; project delays, contract terminations, customer cancellations or postponement of projects and sales; future financial and operating performance of major customers and joint venture partners; our ability to develop, implement, and operate new technologies; our ability to execute the projects in our backlog; our ability to develop, operate and manage costs of large scale and technically complex projects, including gasification projects; tariffs, economic sanctions and regulatory activities in jurisdictions in which we and our affiliates and joint ventures operate; the impact of environmental, tax or other legislation, as well as regulations affecting our business and related compliance requirements, including legislation or regulations related to global climate change; changes in tax rates and other changes in tax law; the timing, impact and other uncertainties relating to acquisitions and divestitures, including our ability to integrate acquisitions and separate divested businesses, respectively; risks relating to cybersecurity incidents, including risks from the interruption, failure or compromise of our information systems; catastrophic events, such as natural disasters and extreme weather events, public health crises, acts of war, or terrorism; the impact on our business and customers of price fluctuations in oil and natural gas and disruptions in markets and the economy due to oil and natural gas price volatility; costs and outcomes of legal or regulatory proceedings and investigations; asset impairments due to economic conditions or specific events; significant fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates from those currently anticipated; damage to facilities, pipelines or delivery systems, including those we own or operate for third parties; availability and cost of electric power, natural gas and other raw materials; the success of productivity and operational improvement programs; and other risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020 and subsequent filings we have made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the assumptions, beliefs, or expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances upon which any such forward-looking statements are based.

Reconciliations to Consolidated Results

The table below reconciles total operating income disclosed in the table above to consolidated operating income as reflected on our consolidated income statements:

The table below reconciles total equity affiliates' income disclosed in the table above to consolidated equity affiliates' income as reflected on our consolidated income statements:

RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(Millions of dollars unless otherwise indicated, except for per share data)

We present certain financial measures, other than in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), on an "adjusted" or "non-GAAP" basis. On a consolidated basis, these measures include adjusted diluted earnings per share ("EPS"), adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted effective tax rate, and capital expenditures. On a segment basis, these measures include adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin. In addition to these measures, we also present certain supplemental non-GAAP financial measures to help the reader understand the impact that certain disclosed items, or "non-GAAP adjustments," have on the calculation of our adjusted diluted EPS. For each non-GAAP financial measure, we present a reconciliation to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Our non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the most directly comparable measure calculated in accordance with GAAP. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide investors, potential investors, securities analysts, and others with useful information to evaluate the performance of our business because such measures, when viewed together with financial results computed in accordance with GAAP, provide a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting our historical financial performance and projected future results.

In many cases, non-GAAP financial measures are determined by adjusting the most directly comparable GAAP measure to exclude non-GAAP adjustments that we believe are not representative of our underlying business performance. For example, we previously excluded certain expenses associated with cost reduction actions, impairment charges, and gains on disclosed transactions. The reader should be aware that we may recognize similar losses or gains in the future. Readers should also consider the limitations associated with these non-GAAP financial measures, including the potential lack of comparability of these measures from one company to another. 

When applicable, the tax impact of our pre-tax non-GAAP adjustments reflects the expected current and deferred income tax impact of our non-GAAP adjustments. These tax impacts are primarily driven by the statutory tax rate of the various relevant jurisdictions and the taxability of the adjustments in those jurisdictions.

NON-GAAP ADJUSTMENTS

There were no non-GAAP adjustments in the fourth quarters of fiscal years 2021 and 2020. The non-GAAP adjustments for the fiscal year ended 30 September 2021 are detailed below. For information related to non-GAAP adjustments for the fiscal year ended 30 September 2020, refer to Exhibit 99.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated 11 November 2020.

Facility Closure

In the second quarter of fiscal year 2021, we recorded a charge of $23.2 ($17.4 after-tax, or $0.08 per share) primarily for a noncash write-down of assets associated with a contract termination in the Industrial Gases – Americas segment. This charge is reflected as "Facility closure" on our consolidated income statements for the twelve months ended 30 September 2021 and was not recorded in segment results.

Gain On Exchange With Joint Venture Partner

As of 30 September 2020, we held a 50% ownership interest in Tyczka Industrie-Gases GmbH ("TIG"), a joint venture in Germany with the Tyczka Group that is primarily a merchant gases business. We accounted for this arrangement as an equity method investment in our Industrial Gases – EMEA segment.

Effective 23 February 2021 (the "acquisition date"), we agreed with our joint venture partner to separate TIG into two separate businesses. On the acquisition date, we acquired a portion of the business on a 100% basis, and our partner paid us $10.8 to acquire the rest of the business. The exchange resulted in a gain of $36.8 ($27.3 after-tax, or $0.12 per share), which is reflected as "Gain on exchange with joint venture partner" on our consolidated income statements for the twelve months ended 30 September 2021. The gain included $12.7 from the revaluation of our previously held equity interest in the portion of the business that we retained and $24.1 from the sale of our equity interest in the remaining business. The gain was not recorded in segment results.

We accounted for the acquisition as a business combination within our Industrial Gases – EMEA segment. The results of this business did not materially impact our consolidated income statements for the periods presented.

Tax Election Benefit And Other

In the third quarter of fiscal year 2021, we recorded an income tax benefit of $12.2 ($0.05 per share) upon release of tax reserves established in 2017 for a tax election related to a non-U.S. subsidiary and other previously disclosed items.

Discontinued Operations

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax, was $70.3 ($0.32 per share) for the twelve months ended 30 September 2021. This included net tax benefits of $60.0 recorded for the release of tax reserves for uncertain tax positions, of which $51.8 ($0.23 per share) was recorded in the fourth quarter for liabilities associated with our former Performance Materials Division ("PMD") and $8.2 was recorded in the third quarter for liabilities associated with our former Energy-from-Waste business. Additionally, we recorded a tax benefit from discontinued operations of $10.3 in the first quarter, primarily from the settlement of a state tax appeal related to the gain on the sale of PMD in fiscal year 2017.

ADJUSTED DILUTED EPS

The table below provides a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measure for each of the major components used to calculate adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations, which we view as a key performance metric. In periods that we have non-GAAP adjustments, we believe it is important for the reader to understand the per share impact of each such adjustment because management does not consider these impacts when evaluating underlying business performance. The per share impact for each non-GAAP adjustment was calculated independently and may not sum to total adjusted diluted EPS due to rounding.

ADJUSTED EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA MARGIN

We define adjusted EBITDA as net income less income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax, and excluding non-GAAP adjustments, which we do not believe to be indicative of underlying business trends, before interest expense, other non-operating income (expense), net, income tax provision, and depreciation and amortization expense. Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin provide useful metrics for management to assess operating performance. Margins are calculated independently for each period by dividing each line item by consolidated sales for the respective period and may not sum to total margin due to rounding.

The tables below present consolidated sales and a reconciliation of net income on a GAAP basis to adjusted EBITDA and net income margin on a GAAP basis to adjusted EBITDA margin:

The tables below present sales and a reconciliation of operating income and operating margin to adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin for each of our regional industrial gases segments for the three months ended 30 September 2021 and 2020:

ADJUSTED EFFECTIVE TAX RATE

The effective tax rate equals the income tax provision divided by income from continuing operations before taxes.

When applicable, the tax impact of our pre-tax non-GAAP adjustments reflects the expected current and deferred income tax impact of our non-GAAP adjustments. These tax impacts are primarily driven by the statutory tax rate of the various relevant jurisdictions and the taxability of the adjustments in those jurisdictions.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

We define capital expenditures as cash flows for additions to plant and equipment, acquisitions (less cash acquired), and investment in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates. A reconciliation of cash used for investing activities to our reported capital expenditures is provided below:

The components of our capital expenditures are detailed in the table below:

We expect capital expenditures for fiscal year 2022 to be approximately $4.5 to $5 billion.

It is not possible, without unreasonable efforts, to reconcile our forecasted capital expenditures to future cash used for investing activities because we are unable to identify the timing or occurrence of our future investment activity, which is driven by our assessment of competing opportunities at the time we enter into transactions. These decisions, either individually or in the aggregate, could have a significant effect on our cash used for investing activities.

OUTLOOK

The guidance provided below is on an adjusted continuing operations basis and is compared to adjusted historical diluted EPS. These adjusted measures exclude the impact of certain items that we believe are not representative of our underlying business performance, such as the incurrence of additional costs for cost reduction actions and impairment charges, or the recognition of gains or losses on disclosed items. It is not possible, without unreasonable efforts, to identify the timing or occurrence of these events or the potential for other transactions that may impact future GAAP EPS. Furthermore, it is not possible to identify the potential significance of these events in advance, but any of these events, if they were to occur, could have a significant effect on our future GAAP EPS. Accordingly, management is unable to reconcile, without unreasonable efforts, the Company's forecasted range of adjusted EPS on a continuing operations basis to a comparable GAAP range. The per share impact for each non-GAAP adjustment was calculated independently and may not sum to total adjusted diluted EPS due to rounding.

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SOURCE Air Products